Lawmakers embrace State of the Union on immigration, tax reform

PEORIA — Immigration reform may prove to be a big winner from President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech, and ditto for a focus on infrastructure improvements and tax reform.

Those are the matters that both Republicans and Democrats representing central Illinois cheered after the hourlong speech.

"I think there is the will in Congress right now to see us pass immigration reform," Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, said from his Capitol Hill office as he described a "piecemeal approach" the House has undertaken that has gotten support from Democrats and Republicans on border security, visas for high-skilled workers and DREAM Act legislation.

The only sticking point is what to do with those still here illegally, though he thought even that could be worked out.

Sen. Dick Durbin said he was encouraged that House Speaker John Boehner continues to bring up the subject of reform in his chamber, and Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, said it's important but "it has to be comprehensive."

Meanwhile, the notion of expanded trade abroad was welcome to Schock, and he said it also is significant to Caterpillar Inc. The Fortune 50 company's CEO, Doug Oberhelman, was the third-term lawmaker's guest at the speech.

"America's competitiveness around the world is key. Our tax rate is key. Certainly hearing the president talking about the need for tax reform is welcome," Schock said, also noting Obama's glancing mention of trade preference authority, something that helps make possible more free trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and a separate European Union pact awaiting consideration.

Tax reform also caught his eye.

"It is a no-brainer for us to get rid of the (massive) tax code, reduce the regulations, reduce the loopholes and flatten the rate so it makes America more competitive," he said. "At the end of the day, the White House and House Republicans agree it will create millions of jobs."

Less popular among Republicans was the notion of raising the minimum wage, though it was a subject that Durbin cheered.

"The minimum wage is not nearly enough," the Illinois Democrat said. "Too many working families are struggling to get by."

Durbin scoffed at the criticism that raising the minimum wage would discourage businesses from hiring more workers.

"That's an argument that has been made for 80 years and has been found to be wrong for 80 years," he said, adding that when workers make more money, they spend more and help to get the economy moving.

That was echoed by Pam Davidson, a John Deere employee from Galesburg who was Bustos' guest at the speech.

"Working people, when they make a nice wage, they spend it within the grocery stores, they spend it within the clothing stores … so that will help the economy tremendously," she said.

Bustos said any federal minimum wage increase would help Illinois because it "levels the playing field" with states such as Iowa and Wisconsin that have different state minimums than Illinois does.

Schock argued, though, that the way Obama introduced the issue created a red herring, announcing his intent to issue an executive order that all future federal contract employees be paid a minimum of $10.10 per hour.

"How many employees does that help," he asked. "Pretty close to zero. It doesn't affect any federal (contract) employees currently. … We can't find any federal workers right now that make the minimum wage."

Further, Schock said, only 2 percent of the total workforce makes the minimum wage, the vast majority of them either people still in school or just starting out their careers.

"A minimum wage is just that, a starting wage … for someone who is just starting out in their career," he said, arguing that growing the economy will raise overall wages and benefit those workers.

Schock also panned Obama's focus on issuing executive orders, noting that as a candidate the current president had strenuously objected to then-President George W. Bush's use of the same tactics.

"We have elections for a reason," Schock said, calling for Obama to work with a co-equal branch of government. "… I think it does democracy a disservice when he threatens to use his pen to bypass Congress and violate our Constitution."

Chris Kaergard can be reached at 686-3135 or ckaergard@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisKaergard. Brad Erickson can be reached at 686-3059 or berickson@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bradrickson.

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